Congress is having a hard time passing new laws to limit greenhouse gas pollution and spur clean energy innovation. Congressional legislation, however, is not the US government's only option.

The Executive Branch has power too, and, according to a new report (.pdf) - authored by the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) - there are five things that President Obama can do right now that would make the United States the world leader in climate policy action.

These recommendations alone won’t save the world. Nor can President Obama. A national cap and price on carbon remains an essential game-changer. But executive action can provide a far better start than Congress has given us so far, particularly if it warms the negotiating climate in Cancun [link added].